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Sunday, July 29, 2007

Two years ago we reported that Sandy Springs, a new Georgia city just outsideof Atlanta, was trying a bold new experiment: turning over the provision ofalmost every traditional government service to the private sector.

So how's that working? Remarkably well, according to Reason Foundation directorof government reform Geoffrey F. Segal.

Writing in Tampa Tribune, Segal says:

"The experiment in Sandy Springs, has proved that local governments don't needhundreds of public employees to function. Sandy Springs, a fast-growing town ofmore than 80,000 residents, has only four public employees who are not involvedwith public safety. Except for police and fire, virtually every governmentfunction has been contracted out."

Segal continues, "In its two years under private management, Sandy Springshasn't needed a tax hike or a fee increase, the government has become moreresponsive, the service quality has improved, and so has customer satisfaction.The residents love it.

"In fact, this model has worked so well that two other Atlanta-area communitiesadopted it last year, and several others are considering a similar approach."

This is a remarkable and revolutionary step. There's nothing special aboutSandy Springs -- except the wisdom to realize that government isn't needed toprovide most, if any, services. (Indeed, we look for the day when governmentsabandon outsourcing, too, and just let the private sector provide serviceswithout government involvement at all.)